A 70-61 win over an Auburn team trying to win a share of its first-ever conference title means Boylan (22-4, 13-2) will likely have to settle for a tie with Auburn (18-6, 12-2). Hononegah (22-7, 14-1), which split with Boylan and only played Auburn once, will win its fourth consecutive outright title if it wins its season finale.

"Just being able to put on a run the second half of the season feels great," Jensen Blassage (21 points) said.

"We have improved 100 percent. We came together as a team, learning to play together."

The Titans haven't lost since Auburn beat them by one on Dec. 10. They looked like they would win easily Thursday when they led 16-12 and Auburn star Melena Burke was helped off the court with a knee injury. Instead, Auburn went on an 8-0 run to take the lead and Burke returned late in the first half.

"I knew she was a strong fighter and she'd be back, and she proved it to us," Boylan junior Kayla Steward said.

Auburn led 24-21 before Boylan scored the last 10 points of the half, the final eight of those by Steward.

And the Titans, despite probably not catching Hononegah, head into the postseason happy, knowing they have improved more from the start of the season to the finish than any team in Perrone's long coaching history.

"They have improved immensely, especially shooting wise," Perrone said. "We're just happy to be playing good ball. It would be nice to be conference champion, but the girls can take a lot of pride in what they've accomplished."